You’ll know it right away: We’re really not like other banks.
We’re informal, friendly and fun. We take our customers’ money seriously, but not ourselves. We even call ourselves by a fun name that started out as a nickname years ago: WaMu.
We’re the bank for everyday people.
In fact, we believe no one else focuses on consumers, small business and commercial customers like we do. We listen to our customers and give them what they value--yet at the same time we make banking simple and enjoyable.
When you visit one of our retail banking stores, call us or find us online, you’ll see that we talk to our customers in straightforward, clear, everyday language--we don’t hide behind “bank speak.” You’ll also notice that we invent for our customers. This isn’t too surprising, since innovation is a core value and big part of our WaMu legacy:
Pioneered the first home loan in 1890.
Started the first shared ATM network in the 1970s.
Offered full-service brokerage and mutual funds through our stores in the 1980s, and was the first bank to do so.
Developed a new retail store design in the late 1990s, the first full-service branch design to be issued a U.S. patent.
Introduced the new WaMu Free Checking™ account in 2006, which offers a whole new level of free services.
Completed the first covered bond issuance by a U.S. Bank in Europe.
Introduced the easiest, paperless online account opening process in the industry.
People & Culture
What makes our people special? Maybe it's our enthusiasm for what we do. Maybe it's our commitment to our communities. Maybe it's the diversity we embody. Actually we think it’s all of these. Learn more about our people and culture.
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Occasio™ Branches
We make our retail banking stores an inviting place to visit. When we combine this with our friendly service, our stores are places customers want to go to rather than have to. Find out more about this patented branch design.
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Our TV Spots
Maybe you've seen them on TV, or maybe you just want to see what you've been missing. In either case, check out our latest TV spots.
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Our Communities
Ever since our founding in 1889, WaMu has been making a difference in our communities. We got our start by helping our neighbors in our hometown of Seattle rebuild after a devastating fire swept through the city. Community involvement is part of our history and part of our culture.
Today, the interconnecting parts of our community commitment include:
Affordable housing and lending
Education investment
Volunteerism and other charitable giving
Support for diversity
In fact, WaMu most recently earned the highest Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rating--Outstanding--from the Office of Thrift Supervision, the primary regulator of all federally chartered thrift institutions, which includes Washington Mutual. The Outstanding rating reflects our performance in meeting the credit needs of the low- and moderate-income communities we serve.
Find more information here.